tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post644241891249261064..comments2024-02-29T03:57:00.088-05:00Comments on The Mermaid's Tale: Designer Babies, Probabilities, and Problem Abilities. (Part 1 of 3)Anne Buchananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212151396672651221noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-32831485419106927992012-09-28T16:46:42.189-04:002012-09-28T16:46:42.189-04:00Holly, I just read this today, and already feel be...Holly, I just read this today, and already feel behind. The idea of conscious reproduction is a fascinating one. I recall that when the movie Gattaca came out, they did some guerilla marketing by putting fake ads in newspapers about a new technology available making 'designer babies' a reality. Supposedly, they got a lot of interest and phone calls from prospective parents. The desire is out there, even if the ethics are debatable.<br /><br />Another idea that I find mind-boggling is that we can choose NOT to reproduce. Evolutionarily, how did we get to that point? It seems to defy what evo is about. I have some guesses, but they aren't much more than that.<br /><br />BTW, love the way you write... great combo of fun and insight. One phrase I'll take away from this is: <br /><br />"No matter how much money you throw at biology, you can never contain all the probability." <br /><br />Looking forward to the book.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14566824904326583965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-40078534484127365752012-09-25T12:39:58.013-04:002012-09-25T12:39:58.013-04:00My post is so timely!
Headline:
Fertility Clini...My post is so timely! <br /> Headline: <br /><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/fertility-clinic-offers-gender-selection-draws-women-abroad/story?id=17219176#.UGHcULJlSSo" rel="nofollow">Fertility Clinic Offers Gender Selection, Draws Women From Abroad</a><br /><br />Except how do you choose gender? :)Holly Dunsworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05260104967932801186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-36942075087716305712012-09-24T17:49:59.011-04:002012-09-24T17:49:59.011-04:00As I've already said to Jen (JKW)... I need to...As I've already said to Jen (JKW)... I need to stop getting defensive about comments and I need to allow people to see the purpose of the blog differently than I do.Holly Dunsworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05260104967932801186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-86972171277263017582012-09-24T16:55:54.398-04:002012-09-24T16:55:54.398-04:00And Jen that sounds like a course all humans shoul...And Jen that sounds like a course all humans should have to take! Here's hoping you get to teach it like crazy for years to comeHolly Dunsworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05260104967932801186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-75776229202018194242012-09-24T16:42:13.528-04:002012-09-24T16:42:13.528-04:00The next two parts are about probabilities, hence ...The next two parts are about probabilities, hence my focus on probabilistic phenotypes in the post.Holly Dunsworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05260104967932801186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-6202650384219817452012-09-24T15:14:34.544-04:002012-09-24T15:14:34.544-04:00Holly, I didn't mean to imply an attack on any...Holly, I didn't mean to imply an attack on anything you wrote - merely intended to provide some supplemental information. I knew this was a one of three-part series (and I look forward to reading the next two). <br /><br />I wanted to just mention some of the other issues because I teach ART in my Culture and Genomics course. I asked my students to consider ethical/philosophical differences between ART used for medically necessary vs. elective purposes; considerations surrounding use of ART to avoid a condition vs. use to increase the likelihood of a condition; legal implications of multiple "biological" parenthood; and a whole bunch of other issues related to sex equality and family rights in the US. I didn't mean to suggest that you weren't aware of these things, but I have no idea of all of the readers of MT are aware of these things and felt like it was important to at least put out there... Again, sorry to offend. Definitely didn't mean to do that. <br /><br />Ellen, I read the Slate article. I agree it is a really interesting perspective. I'm definitely adding it to my list of readings in that section of the course (assuming I'll ever have the opportunity to teach it again). <br /><br />JKWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09292737413026824514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-81074914582085424862012-09-24T13:34:50.268-04:002012-09-24T13:34:50.268-04:00Holly, I had the same reaction to the Slate articl...Holly, I had the same reaction to the Slate article. It isn't something I understand doing, but whatever people want to put a second mortgage on their house for is mostly their business. <br /><br />JW, you might enjoy tracking down the Slate article. What was interesting about it was precisely the focus on predominately white, North American families without pre-existing medical conditions, as opposed to international perspectives more common in discussing sex-selection. It isn't a perspective that many of us think about.EllenQhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04805375871164019260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-84018146717126375762012-09-24T13:23:18.555-04:002012-09-24T13:23:18.555-04:00And one more because I'm feeling very defensiv...And one more because I'm feeling very defensive by your comment, whether or not you intended dear friend...<br /><br />The BBC link I provided is a great example of your second paragraph. Holly Dunsworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05260104967932801186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-70208194418609415662012-09-24T13:20:01.564-04:002012-09-24T13:20:01.564-04:00I believe that people have a right to choose and t...I believe that people have a right to choose and to pay for technology that allows it. <br /><br />I wonder with concern if expecting a son and getting a son (XY) who does not embody expectations is worse than just letting biology take its course. Holly Dunsworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05260104967932801186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-6333506923376263512012-09-24T13:17:01.085-04:002012-09-24T13:17:01.085-04:00Thanks for your comment JKW.
However, I don'...Thanks for your comment JKW. <br /><br />However, I don't agree with your use of "however" considering I never claimed to be describing the whole issue or all the details and circumstances under the umbrella.Holly Dunsworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05260104967932801186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-63313964922982381672012-09-24T13:08:56.203-04:002012-09-24T13:08:56.203-04:00It's important for us all to keep in mind, how...It's important for us all to keep in mind, however, that there are many reasons other than curling hair or playing with makeup that influence a woman or couple's interest in selecting the sex (not gender) of a future child. One reason is avoidance of particular congenital diseases that are sex-linked when there is known or suspected family history. Another reason is that a woman or couple may have multiple sons and really, really want a daughter (or, contrastingly, have multiple daughters and really, really want a son). Still other reasons require us to think outside our US-centric perspective to consider restrictions on the number of children a couple is permitted by government to have (e.g. China) or cultural norms that influence interest in having male heirs (e.g. India). For further reading check out Bumgarner, "A right to choose? Sex selection in the International Context" Duke Journal of Gender, Law & Policy 2007; 14: 1289.<br /><br />The fact is that not everyone who attempts ART (assisted reproductive technology) is motivated by the potential behavior (including gender identity) of the future child. JKWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09292737413026824514noreply@blogger.com